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University of Oklahoma Libraries Western History Collections
CHEROKEE NATION MANUSCRIPT COLLECTIONS
Mankiller, Wilma Papers 1977-1995 45 feet
Indian chief. Official and personal correspondence, subject files, business records of the Cherokee Nation and Wilma Mankiller for the period 1977-1995, including personal correspondence (1993-1995); correspondence (1985-1995) with members of the U.S. Congress and the National Congress of American Indians; tribal council correspondence (1990-1994); Cherokee National Historical Society correspondence (1990-1995); and general correspondence (1982-1995). Subject files relating to Native American Rights Fund (1989-1993); U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs central office (1988-1995); U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs Muskogee, Oklahoma, area office (1989-1995); Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes (1977-1995); the National Congress of American Indians (1993-1995); the Tribal Election Commission (1985-1994); and tribal council meetings (1985-1993). Business and financial records of the Cherokee Nation concerning Cherokee Gardens (1981-1991); the Bingo Outpost (1989-1995); and Cherokee Nation Industries (1977-1995), along with budget, accounting, and audit papers. Education and training records of the Cherokee Nation concerning the Job Training Partnership Act (1993-1995); Head Start (1985-1995); Oaks Mission School (1977-1995); Sequoyah High School (1984-1995); and Talking Leaves Job Corps. Community development and housing files related to block grants (1985-1995); the Community Loan Fund (1987-1994); the Bell Project (1981-1987); the Cherokee Housing Authority (1993-1994); and the Home Improvement Program (1985-1994). Health issue files relating to Indian health services (1991-1995) and the National Indian Health Board (1985-1992). Environmental program records relating to the Arkansas Riverbed Authority (1993-1994) and papers relating to Mankiller's books and other writings, with genealogical materials concerning her family.
Wilma Pearl Mankiller was born in 1945 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and became the first woman chief of a Native American tribe in modern history. She served as Deputy and Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, and throughout her career spoke out for the rights of Native Americans. An ardent activist and feminist, Mankiller was inducted into the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame (1986), the International Women's Forum Hall of Fame (1992), the National Women's Hall of Fame (1993), and has received the Distinguished Leadership Award of the Harvard Foundation. In addition, she was chosen as one of the Fifty Great Americans by Who's Who. She is the author of Mankiller: A Chief and Her People, and co-editor of The Reader's Companion to the History of Women in the United States.
This collection consists of official and personal correspondence, subject files, and business records. Record series include personal correspondence (1993-1995), correspondence (1985-1995)